Mike
nodded as James left the basement, and then began his morning workout. After
stretching he put back on his weighted vest then it was an hour of weight
training, bag work and then the tread mill.

“One
ninety-eight…one ninety-nine…two hundred.
Ugh.” Mike exited the bench press then made a note on in his exercise
chart, and oorahed that he could finally lift 250 pounds.

For the next hour he worked on his
striking techniques. Taking a deep breath he dropped his weight, bent his knees
and then rotated his shoulders as he delivered a final palm strike to the 150
pound bag. He sent it two feet back, dodged it, then landed a front kick and
smiled.

Twenty
minute into his run on the tread mill Mike felt his lungs burn and chest
tighten, but he fought back the asthma attack. He looked down at display and
saw he was a mile short of his goal. He closed his eyes repeated to himself,
“Honor, courage, commitment.”

.
When the buzzer sounded two minutes later he was drenched, but satisfied he
broke 7 miles. Mike reached for his inhaler but stopped and gritted his teeth
and took shallow breaths until the attack passed.

“You
get your studies done boy?”James said when he saw Mike in the kitchen.

Mike
finished toweling off then said, “Finished everything except the Mandarin
and Arabic. Just taking a break for breakfast, sir.”

“OK
long as you get it done and do your chores you can go out, but don’t stay
out late. We have church tomorrow. And don’t forget to fill up the
tank,” James said then tossed Mike the keys to his camaro. Mike then
asked where his mother was and found out she was working a shooting case and
would be gone for most of the day interviewing her client and taking
depositions.

Mike cursed when he saw he only got an 85
in his art history course. He clicked on the next module and saw it was for a
comparative religion course .After he read the syllabus he noted it required
him to interview a religious leader of his choice for his final project, then
put it aside and got on Skype.

“Long
time no see faggot!” Kyle’s thick Maryland accent always cracked up
Mike.

Kyle
took off his polo then removed his dress shoes and vanished from the screen. He
returned with two cases and a towel then pulled out a gun and cleaning kit.

”Whatever
man. Yo dude, since when did ya rock the ghetto fab look?”

“Oh
this?” Mike said running his hand over his
Jordan Jersey and basketball shorts.

“Ever since the Sergeant eased up
and let me hang with civilians. And son why you fronting? Your ass
could’ve hit me up any time. So you hear from Eric or the others?”

“No
just you man. We really need to get together before college. Ugh! I don’t
think I can take much more of this alpha crap though dude,” Kyle said as
he disassembled the 9mm and arranged the pieces on the towel.

“Oh
come on it’s not that bad besides I kind of like it and been stepping up
my training. Plus Dad said I can go to the HOP by myself.” Mike stretched
out on his bed and let out a yawn.

“That
is bull man. Dad doesn’t even take me to the HOP any more, says I’m
too soft.” Kyle finished cleaning the barrel then wiped his sooty hands
on the towel.

“Well
dude maybe you need to step up your game. I’m on two-a-days plus weight
training and running. All with my vest on mind you.”

“Jesus
man when do you have time for all that plus the academic stuff? How much you up
to? And what about going out?” Kyle paused to lubricate the barrel.

“Meh, it’s no biggie just have to get up at 5am and in
bed by like 11pm. FYI I’m up to 100 pounds and only take it off at night, school and for
showers. Nice piece by the way—a glock?”

“Nope,
a berretta. Got it for my birthday last year, but
like dude you aren’t human. No way could I get up at the ass crack of
dawn like that. And I’m at 80. ”

“You
lucky bastard, Mom doesn’t allow guns in the house.Later son, I’m going to see if the
others are online. Seriously, we should do this again soon.”

“Yeah
man that’d be sweet. Fucking miss you guys like crazy. We should totally
talk like do this every week!” Kyle’s voice jumped two octaves and
his pale skin flushed rosy, making him look even younger than his baby face
already did.

“Cool,
I’ll see if the others are down for it too. And remember semper fi. Do or
die Soldier Boys never try. We always fly high and get a piece of the pie. Who
are we?”

“Damn
Mike, it’s good to hear from ya man. What’s the sitch?”
The brown haired teen said in a sweet Texan drawl.

Mike
told him to coordinate with the others and set up a conference call for next
week.

“Will
do sir!” Tony saluted him and knocked off his
Stetson. His pudgy face set in a bashful grin as he put it back on.

“That’s
good man well later—and remember we’re hard on you because a chain
is only as a strong as its weakest link,” Mike said and shook his
head.

“Yeah
I know, still a big klutz as you just saw.” He pulled the rim of hat over
his eyes and lowered his head.

“No
excuses man. Semper fi.”

Tony
gave him another salute and after a “Yeah, semper fi,” they signed
off.

After
he finished cleaning up the yard it was going on three and when he checked face
book saw Jack’s address on his wall, but paused because Jack had moved
into the Armstrong’s house around the corner from him.

Upon
entering the yard he saw Jack carrying a stack of boxes and offered to help him
out and they spent the next hour arranging Jack’s room. They sprawled out
on the bed with Mike’s feet danged over the edge of the King size
mattress. He asked where everyone was at and Jack said they were off getting
groceries and new clothes for the twins.

They
exchanged small talk for awhile then Mike asked why they had moved back. Jack
explained that due to the economic down turn his parents lost a lot of many and
had to sell most of their assets to cover their debts and now worked as branch
managers for Comerica.

Mike asked if they planned to stick
around for a while and Jack explained that his parents were working on a merge that would provide the bulk of the funds for a
venture capitalist firm they and their investment banker associates were
forming.

“Oh
so you’re just here temporarily then?” Mike turned his head and
gave Jack a dejected look.

“No,
but if things go well we’ll probably move to like Bloomfield Hills,
Rochester, or there abouts.” He gave Mike a
reassuring smile and socked him in the arm.

“Not
that far then? So, what was New York like?” Mike kicked off his sneakers
and rolled on his side facing Jack.

“Don’t
get me wrong I loved it and all, but I’m glad to be back man—too many
phony ass people. Sure ski trips to Switzerland and vacationing in the south of
France was nice, and I’m stoked I got to keep my jag, but I missed
this,” Jack said and pulled Mike into a hug. For his part Mike slipped
out of Jack’s grip and put him in a side head lock. After Jack tapped out
he eased the pressure and gave him a noogie.

“Missed
you too fucker. Now that’ll teach ya.” He ruffled Jack’s hair
then gave him a wet willy.

Once
Mike released him, Jack rolled on top of him getting full mount and went for a
front choke hold.

Mike
grabbed his right arm and executed an arm and mounted Jack’s back locked
his legs and went for a rear naked choke hold

Jack
shot out from under Mike and got side mount and went for an arm lock.

Mike scrambled around and got rear guard,
locking his legs around Jack’s waist and got him with guillotine choke.
When Jack tapped out, Mike rolled on top him and smirked.

“Ok I give. Jesus you’re
heavy,’ Jack said between huffs.

“I’ve
been meaning to ask what happened to your crutches?—hey I’m only
230 and besides have on my vest.”

Mike released him and took a hit from his
inhaler. They rolled to opposite sides of the bed and watched sports center, to
Jack’s annoyance, but neither dare acknowledge they were hard.

“Oh
yeah my gymnastics teacher told me about his friend in Denmark who pioneered an
experimental surgery where rods are put in bones to strengthen them. So after
taking it over with the rents I had the operation. Was wheelchair bounded for
six months but it was worth it. Only use these ankle braces except when my
knees start to hurt then it back to the crutches,” he said and lifted up
his pant leg.

“What
these? I airbrushed them myself along with most of my clothes dude. Love
designing my own outfits and stuff.” Jack’s face lit up as he
talked about how he came up with ideas for new projects and how he wanted to
visit France again and finally see the Louvre.

Mike
missed how animated Jack got when he was excited and couldn’t help but
smile.

“Pinky
I know people who’d pay $1-200 easily for these. If ya go into business you’d
make mad stacks son.”

“What?”
Jack rolled on his side towards Mike and rested his chin on his hands.

“Seriously,
I’m tempted to have you hook up my air force ones.Have all the hoes on my jock then.”

“Well
I’d have to charge extra for those boats of yours.” He reached over
and flicked the other boy’s ear

Mike
turned his head and said, “Hey! I get it from my daddy.Besides you know what they
say…”

Jack
rolled his eyes.

“Bullshit
you were only like an inch bigger than me.”

“Were,
being the key word there. I’ve grown over two feet in the past three
years and the doctors say I‘ll probably break 7 feet before my final
growth spurt. And what are you, five-eight?”

“Five-ten
fuck you very much and 6.5 inches where it counts,” Jack said with a satisfied
smirk on his face.

“Ha
got you beat.”

“
If you’re so cocky then whip it out.”

“Not
happening. You always did have a thing for my thing though.” Mike
chuckled at his joke and play punched Jack’s arm.

“Right
and you must’ve forget why you started calling me Pinky,” Jack said
and launched his pillow at Mike.

“
I
have a rep to maintain, seriously. Oh and heads up: you might want to keep the
whole gay thing under wraps—just saying. You’re not in NYC anymore,
son.”

“Fuck
you. I can take care of myself and won’t hide who I am!”

“Pinky
I didn’t mean it like that. Just be careful. I…”Mike trailed
off and then suggested they play Call of Duty for awhile.

In
between getting his head blown off by grenades Jack told Mike about his time at
the Manhattan Academy for Boys in Connecticut. They were expected to take at
least three extracurricular activities which is how Jack discovered his talent
for art and got into BJJ and gymnastics.

His
roommate was an exchange student from South Africa named Henrick and Jack spent
the first few weeks ignoring him until they caught each other jerking off one
night. With the ice broken they began freely masturbating and by the end of the
semester were a couple.

It
was one thing for Jack to say he was gay, but another to hear him talk about
his first relationship. Mike nodded his head where appropriate and tried not to
think about Jack getting it on with another guy, but when Jack mentioned how they
broke up because his family wasn’t wealthy anymore Mike gripped his
controller until his knuckles turned white.

“If
you talk to this Henrick mug again tell him to watch his back. You feel me?”

“Why
do you care so much?” he took this opportunity to get in a head shoot on
Mike’s character.

“Easy,
because no one hurts my Pinky.” He respawned and got Jack back with a
grenade to the chest.

“Careful
there or I might get the wrong idea.” He lucked out and tossed the other
teen’s grenade back and it exploded right before Mike was out of
range.

“We
wouldn’t want that now would we?” Mike said batting his eyes and
then broke into a laugh. Jack groaned and tossed his other pillow at him. The
conversation lulled and they got back to their game. The boys
trash talked and shoved each other until Jack got shoot in the head for the
fifth time in a row and threw down his controller.

“This
bullshit man you totally have an unfair advantage.”

“Not
my fault you suck out loud.”

“Well
unlike you I haven’t done this stuff for real.”

“What?”
Mike dropped his controller and narrowed his eyes at Jack and then spoke in a
solemn voice.

“If
you or the twins told anyone about us you know I’ll have to take you
out.”

“Mike
you know me. I never told anyone about the alphas and made sure the twins
didn’t either. A soldier knows when to speak up and when to remain
silent,” Jack said and stood up straight eyeballing Mike, who got right
in his face.

A
staring contest ensued until Jack shifted his eyes to the ground and turned his
head away. Mike grabbed Jack’s face and turned him so he was looking
directly at him. Jack flinched back but relaxed when he saw Mike’s smile.

“Good
you still remember your training, but how much do you remember about the Soldier
Boys?”

“Not
much just that you guys are the sons of Marines and were put through USMC recruit
training then Special Forces training as you got older.”

“Correct,
mostly MARSOC and FORECON with a bit of SEAL training compliments of
Kyle’s dad, but you guys didn’t complete training. So are you
willing to finish what we started? I’m
not going to lie. What I put you and the twins through is noting
compared to what’s ahead.”

Jack
mulled it over then asked what exactly they’d be doing, but Mike cut him
off and said that he’d only reveal that if they agreed to continue
training. After Jack pestered him for the better part of an hour he relented.

“I’m
going to show you something, but don’t freak.” Mike took off his
vest and tossed it to the ground where it thudded. After explaining why he wore
the vest he lay on his stomach and showed Jack his scarred back.

James would keep Mike up for days at a
time and make him recite passes from The Art of War and the Rifleman’s
Creed and beat him with a bamboo cane when he messed up. And when it came time
to learn survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) techniques he had to
endure being burn with cigarettes, electrocuted via car battery and being
drowned. And then there were the scares from edged and improvise weapon
fighting and wrestling with dogs and wolves.

“Your
dad should be under the jail for he did to you. There’s no way in hell we’re
going through that!” Jack he ran his fingers over Mike’s back and
shook his head.

“Pinky
I’m not going to go as hard core as my dad, but you will have to learn to
endure pain. And the wolf thing is something only Kyle and I do, but wrestling
with dogs was how we learned to fight. You weren’t brought up like us and
I don’t expect you to understand it.”

Mike
rolled on to his back and rested his arms behind his back and then fell silent.He stared up at Jack’s giant
rainbow poster and the reproductions of famous paintings hanging on the walls.

Jack turned to him and just missed an
elbow to the nose. He took in
Mike’s sculpted body and its dark chocolate flesh and was mystified how
the boy could be so blasé.

Mike
turned his head, caught Jack staring then wiggled his eyebrows.

“Take
a picture already,” he said and then smirked as he flexed his chest and
abs.

“Sprechen
Sie Deutsch?” Jack tried not to laugh, but failed when Mike replied back
in German.

“If
you think that’s bad you do, wait for it, not want to hear my mandarin.”
He flicked Jack’s nose and dodged another pillow.

“How
many languages do know?”

“French,
Russian, Arabic, Latin, Japanese, and Portuguese starting next month, but
I’m only fluent in Latin, German and Japanese. The rest 50 percent or
less literacy, but it’s par for the course and
you’ll be do language training too. To answer your other question:
don’t be so naïve. All warfare is based on deception.”

“OK
Mr. Superman, how are you able to do all this?”

Jack
kicked off his shoed and then flexed his dainty toes.

“The
same way I got through training, semper fidelis.”

“Always
faithful?”

“Yeah.”

Mike
paused to wipe his eyes then continued, “Yeah maybe Dad crossed the line
sometimes, but it made me stronger and I will carry the lessons he taught me
‘till I die.When things are darkest I use the
inner strength he forged in me to go beyond my limits. I carry this attitude in
everything I do. Sure multitasking, route memorizing and mnemonic devices help,
but semper fidelis is how I’m able to do it.” He broke towards the
end and Jack rubbed his shoulders until he calmed down.

“You
ok?”

“Yeah
man, just need a trip to the House of Pain to get squared away,” Mike put
on his vest and jersey and lay back down.

“The
what?” Jack watched Mike messed around with
his phone.

The
House of Pain was a cabin up north James had built for intense training and
housed a firing range, rock climbing wall, pool and gym. Then there’s the
Pit. Kept at 110 degrees Fahrenheit, the Soldier Boys had to spar and exercise
in there, but James would lock Mike in the Pit with just a few gallons of water
and minimal food when he didn’t get with the program. The other alphas
had HOPs as well, built to suit their needs.

SERE training took place in the woods
that surrounding the HOP and Mike had to survive for months at a time. He was 5
when this began with weekend then week long stints and as the length increased
wilderness camp became the cover story.

When
Mike was 8, with only his combat knife and a canteen he encountered a pack of
grey wolves on his third day of a three month stay.

The alpha male charged Mike and pinned
him down. As it was about to rip out his throat Mike’s adrenaline kicked
in and he rolled out from under it and then jumped on its back. He clamped his
arms around its neck and held on tight until the wolf stopped mauling him and
stilled. He drove his knife into its neck then got up and eyed the five wolves
left.

One
stepped forward crouched down and bared his fangs. Mike stepped forward and
stared him down and he backed way. He took another step and the wolf whined.
The others eyed him until a female approached him. He ready to strike but then
she sniffed him and licked the wounds on his neck and shoulders.

Following
her lead the others sniffed him then lay down around him and waited. He put
down the knife and made to rub the chin of the female wolf. She reared back
then licked his hand and rolled on her back showing her stomach. And like that
he was accepted as one of them. For
the remainder of his time Mike hunted, fought, ate and slept with the pack.

When
James came to collect to him he found Mike covered in animal blood and on all
fours flanked by the wolves. His nails had grown into claws and his teeth
sharpened to fangs. James drew his glock and shot the wolves. Mike charged him
but was smacked down. James cleaned him up and they went home, but the boy
wasn’t the same. He craved raw meat, ate dirt and had heightened smell
and night vision. Mike didn’t remember much after he came home until his
ninth birthday, bur from then on only this feral side could only be sated when
he was deep in the wild among wolves.

Jack’s
head spun as he digested this information. There was no way he could he survive
the training let alone the wolf stuff.

Mike
saw his trepidation and reminded Jack that he was hard but fair, and
wouldn’t push them beyond their breaking point.

“I
still don’t know if I’m cut out for this stuff Mike.”

“I
know you are because I still see the alpha spark in you.”

“What
are you talking about?”

“Honor,
courage and commitment. You stood up to me back then with
the twins and today in the mall. That took guts and is what being a soldier boy
is about.”

“OK,
but I still don’t know about this. If you think I can handle it then yeah
man, but if you cross the line with the twins I will kick your ass,” Jack
said without a hint of humor in his voice.

“If
you think I’m being too hard then pull me aside and we’ll discuss
it, but if you ever undermine my authority I will break you. Is that understood!?”

“Yeah
man can we talk about something else. I hate it when you get like this.”

“That’s
sir yes—yeah man, sorry. Sometimes I can’t turn the alpha side of
me off. It’s so ingrained that I forget I’m evening doing it.”
His eyes took on a faint glow as he flipped the TV to a UFC match and they fell
into silence.

Jack
stole furtive glances at him when he thought Mike wasn’t looking, but the
other boy was acutely aware and spoke.

“Anyways
about the gay thing, I don’t care. You’re just doing you, but
nothing is going to happen between us.”

“OK
but then why’d you suck me off?”

“One
that was kid’s stuff and besides I was just paying you back for all the
freebies you gave me. Did that answer your question?” Mike said then
turned away from Jack and crossed his arms over his chest.

“But
then why’d you kiss me back?”

“I
did not!”

“Bullshit!
We locked pinkies and you promised to stand up to your dad if I didn’t
change.Then I kissed you and you
kissed me back when I tried to pull away.”

“Seriously
dude, drop it. I’m trying to watch this.” He drew his knees into
his chest and hunched his shoulders.

Jack
turned so Mike couldn’t avoid his faced anymore.

“Look
me in the eye and tell me that you don’t have feelings for me,”

“Get
away from me.”

Mike
shoved him and Jack hopped on top of him. He pinned Mike’s chest in place
with his knees and held Mike’s arms in place with his hand.

“You
know I it’s only a matter time before I get out this, and when I do
prepare to get your ass kick,” Mike said and tried to use his feet to
give him enough leverage to roll to the side.

“Not
happening.” Jack pressed Mike back down to bed and locked eyes with him,
then continued, “Tell me you didn’t feel anything when we kissed
and I’ll let you go.”

Mike
gritted his teeth then dug down deep and pressed himself into the mattress
causing Jack’s hold to decrease enough for him to roll to the side and
send Jack over the edge of the bed.Mike fell on top of him and when got up he realized Jack nonresponsive.

Mike
checked his pulse and found it steady and sighed when saw Jack was still breathing.
He shook Jack a few more times and smiled when his eyes opened. Mike asked if
he was OK and Jack responded he was fine no thanks to him. Mike tried to
apologize, but Jack cut him off, told him to never put his hands on him again,
and leave.

“I
said is that understood!” Jack’s voice roared as he made it to
shaky feet.

“Loud
and clear, and if I did kiss you back… it was because I didn’t want
to lose you yet. Guess I did now huh?Bye.”

That’s
it for this chapter. Well the cracks in Mike’s armor are beginning to
show and keep an eye out for Kyle and the Soldier Boys.